Winter Weather Awareness Week

October 21st to October 27th, 2012

Steve DiRienzo Warning Coordination Meteorologist

National Weather Service Albany, NY

Why do we need to be prepared for

the upcoming winter?

The Northeast is vulnerable to big snow and ice storms and bitter cold.

• Winter weather can be dangerous if you are not prepared.

• U.S. Annual Fatalities: – Annually 62 people are directly killed nationwide from winter storms and

cold. – Thousands more are killed in winter-related motor vehicle accidents. Many

more are injured. – Approximately 70 percent of fatalities due to winter storms come from

automobile accidents. – Approximately 25 percent of fatalities occur when people get caught out in a

storm.

(Source: The Snow Booklet)

U.S. Economic Impacts of Winter Storms

• Cost of snow removal exceeds $2 billion annually.

• Eight million tons of salt at a cost of $250 million dollars.

• Tens of thousands of traffic accidents.

• Personal fall accidents which claim lives and generate hundreds of millions in medical expenses.

Winter Hazards

• Heavy Snow

• Freezing Rain

• Cold Outbreaks

• Flooding

• Ice Jams

Snowstorm Definitions

• Heavy Snow: 7 inches or more/12 hours or 9 inches or more/24 hours.

• Blizzard: the most severe winter storm. Wind or wind gusts exceeding 35 mph for 3 hours or more combined with blowing and/or falling snow. Visibilities near zero with widespread whiteout conditions. Blizzards are a serious life-threatening weather hazard!

• Snow Squall: intense periods of snow with near blizzard or blizzard conditions at times.

• Snow Shower: intermittent accumulating snow

• Snow Flurries: very light snow with little or no accumulation.

Snow Squalls

• Often the cause of traffic pile ups.

• Often occur along an arctic frontal boundary and have high winds.

• Generally minor snow accumulations, but roads get covered in an instant.

• Rapid changes in visibility to white out conditions.

Heavy Snow Impacts

• Collapsed Roofs

• Break Tree Limbs and Utility Lines

• Closed Schools

• Traffic Disruption

• (Oct 2011)

Lake Effect Snow – Why it Happens

Lake Effect Snow

Lake Effect Snow often in narrow bands or plumes.

Ice Storms: Definitions

• Freezing rain: rain that freezes on contact with all exposed surfaces. Objects become encased in ice, can damage trees and power lines. • Sleet: Frozen raindrops that bounce on impact with the ground. Does NOT glaze over or encase objects with ice.

Sleet vs. Freezing Rain

Sleet Freezing Rain

Winter Weather Safety- At Home

• Flashlight and extra batteries.

• Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and portable radio to receive emergency information.

• Extra food and water – at least a 3 day supply.

• Extra medicine and baby items.

• First-aid supplies.

• Heating fuel. • Emergency heating source, such as a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.

• Fire extinguisher and smoke detector.

Winter Storm Survival Kit- Automobiles

•Blankets/sleeping bags

• Flashlight with extra Batteries • First-aid kit • Knife • High-calorie, nonperishable Food • Extra clothing to keep dry • A large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes

A smaller can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking water •Sack of sand (or cat litter) • Shovel • Windshield scraper and brush • Tool kit • Tow rope • Booster cables • Water container • Compass and road maps or GPS

Automobile Safety in Winter Storms

•Plan your travel and check the latest weather reports to avoid the Storm if possible. • Fully check and winterize your vehicle before the winter season begins. • Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. • Try not to travel alone. • Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate routes.

Winter Weather: NWS Watches

Winter Storm Watch: Potential (50% chance or more) for a winter storm. A

winter storm watch is used to cover all of the potential hazards from snow to ice to wind and extreme cold. – Potential exists for 7 inches of snow or more in 12 hours or less. – Potential exists for ½ inch or more of ice. – NWS will issue a Winter Storm Watch 24 to 72 hours in advance of the event. • Blizzard Watch: Potential exists for blizzard conditions 24 to 72 hours in advance. • Lake Effect Snow Watch: 7 inches or more of lake effect snow possible in the next 24 to 72 hours. • Wind Chill Watch: Potential exists for winds chills of -25°F or greater, with winds of ≥ 5 mph, lasting longer than one hour

Winter Weather: NWS Warnings

Winter Storm Warning

– 7 inches of snow or more in 12 hours or 9 inches of snow or more in 24 hours. – Dangerous combination of snow, ice, low wind chill, and/or blowing/drifting snow. • Lake Effect Snow Warning – 7 inches or more of lake effect snow in 12 hours – Localized accumulations; not all areas will see heavy lake effect snow. • Ice Storm Warning – 1/2 inch or more of ice (freezing rain or drizzle). • Blizzard Warning – Blizzard conditions expected: Wind or wind gusts exceeding 35 mph for 3 hours or more combined with blowing and/or falling snow. Visibilities near zero. Widespread whiteout conditions. • Wind Chill Warning – Wind Chills of -25F or less

Winter Weather Advisories

•Winter Weather Advisory: – Hazardous combination of snow, ice, low wind chill, and/or blowing/drifting snow. •Freezing Rain Advisory – Any accumulation of ice •Lake Effect Snow Advisory – 4 to 6 inches of lake effect snow •Wind Chill Advisory: – Wind chills of -15°F to -24°F

Wind Chill Chart

Ice Jams

Mohawk River Near Twin Bridges – March 2011

Julie Stuart

Ice Jams

Looking NW at the North Creek Bridge, Hudson River. (March 2011)

Photo courtesy of Warren County Emergency Management

Winter Flooding

Mohawk River – March 2011

Rain, snowmelt and ice jams all contribute to winter flooding.

Julie Stuart

2012-2013 Winter Outlook – Near Normal

Climate Prediction Center

NWS Albany Web Page

Weather Alerts on Mobile Device

• http://inws.wrh.noaa.gov/ (NWS iNWS)

• http://www.ialertz.com/ (New York iAlertz)

• NY-ALERT

• http://water.usgs.gov/wateralert/ (USGS Water Alert)

• Private Vendor Apps

Stay aware of all the latest watches, advisories and warnings on your mobile device.

NOAA Weather Radio

• http://weather.gov/nwr

Stay aware of all the latest watches, advisories and warnings on NOAA Weather Radio.

NWS Albany on Facebook and Twitter

NWS Contacts New York State

NWS Contacts Connecticut

NWS Contacts Massachusetts

NWS Contacts Vermont